KGH Foundation 2021/22 Annual Impact Report

FEATURED 2021 / 2022

Following the sale of the Kiwanis Tower in November 2017, the Kiwanis Clubs of Kelowna donated $4 million to establish the Kiwanis Legacy Endowment. Annual proceeds from the historic endowment gifted to the KGH Foundation are dedicated to supporting programs and projects which benefit the health and well-being of children and youth in the Central Okanagan.

In its first three years, the Kiwanis Legacy Fund disbursed $500,000. In this year alone, the Fund has disbursed $546,500 into the community, more than doubling the impact for community services and programs while celebrating Kiwanis’ 75-year anniversary in the community.

Funds supported the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit and Pediatric Department at KGH, the Kelowna Community Resources Crisis Line by offering a text option, the Child Advocacy Centre’s Resilient Families Program, CMHA Kelowna’s Benvoulin Youth Housing Initiative and the first phase of the City of Kelowna’s Strathcona Beach Park Project, to replace the existing playground with a universally accessible outdoor play space.

The stress and anxiety for out-of-town families who need to stay in Kelowna while their child receives specialized care at KGH can be overwhelming. If JoeAnna’s House is full, Variety Children’s Charity steps up to help. In years past, Variety has provided families with seven days of food, travel and accommodation for their stay in Kelowna. But this year, they have increased their support to 25 days, which is simply phenomenal and has a significant impact on families.

“There are so many unknowns,” says Heidi, whose young son spent six and a half weeks at KGH this past year. “The cost of time off work…traveling between home and KGH for appointments…I was prepared to sleep in my car.”

Thanks to Variety Children’s Charity, Heidi didn’t need to sleep in her car. She was able to travel from her home in Castlegar to Kelowna to support her son knowing that her hotel, food and travel were covered. “I can’t thank the Variety Club enough…from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” says Heidi.

A PFCC Grant supported the purchase of cute stuffies for kids requiring medical imaging at KGH. “We had two kids who were adorable,” recalls one Medical Radiation Technologist. “We asked what their favorite animal was and they both said “giraffe”. The delight was evident on their faces when we were able to give them each a giraffe stuffie!”

Another Technologist shares, “I had to X-ray a two-year-old boy in an isolation room in Emergency. He was so sick, but he did everything I asked of him to get his X-ray. I brought him back a stuffed animal and his little eyes just lit up. I feel this is cathartic for us as technologists, especially when we are in a case that pulls at our heartstrings. Thank you for allowing us this important stress relief. It may not seem like much, but it is amazing for patient (and tech)!”